Introduction
The idea of prosperity is very popular. Get rich quick, winning the lottery, becoming a millionaire by the age of 30, and lifestyles of the rich and famous are all very familiar to us. Have you ever wondered why that is?
I think part of the reason for this pursuit of wealth is found in how God created us. There are several aspects to consider:
- God created us to have a relationship with Him
- The fall of man destroyed the relationship
- Man now attempts to fill that void
Background
When man was originally created, he enjoyed a relationship with God in the garden, but sin broke that relationship. God redeems us so that we can regain and enjoy fellowship with Him. From the beginning, God’s goal was to dwell in, and be among us, as He says in 2 Corinthians 6:16:
“I will dwell in them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”1
There is a void created by the broken relationship with God. Unbelievers attempt to fill that void with something that God created instead of God Himself. They find that the creation will not satisfy. It might work for a while, or they may settle for less, but something is still missing. Even Christians can be subject to the contamination of sin so that they seek fulfillment outside of their relationship with God. The only fulfillment is found in a relationship with our Creator.
Prosperity is one of the ways man attempts to fill that void. The rest of this article covers two of the more prevalent worldly viewpoints on gaining wealth I have labeled Give to Get and Get to Give. Lastly, I briefly cover the Biblical view on prosperity.
Give to Get
This view is widespread in secular financial circles among those who want to get rich. It is also one of the tenants of the ‘Christian’ prosperity gospel.2 I put Christian in quotes because it is not a Biblical Christian view at all.
In short, the Give to Get view is ‘You give, and God must give back.’ The thinking goes something like this:
- God wants you to be rich
- If you give, God promises to give more back to you
- Wealth is proof that you are right with God
There is a problem with each of these points, and following this train of thought can lead to many problems.3 I will deal with each point individually.
1. God wants you to be rich
God does not promise riches to everyone, but does entrust wealth to some. Those who do gain wealth are expected to be good stewards of it. In 1 Timothy 6, the rich are instructed to do good works and be generous. This would have been a perfect place for Paul to tell Timothy that God wants Christians to be rich. Instead, God warns us not to long for riches, but rather be content with what we have.4
The folks who claim this usually name Biblical examples such as Abraham as proof. Paul is not used as an example because he traveled constantly and worked with his own hands -certainly not materially rich. By their logic, if God wanted us to be rich, then Jesus would be the best example. But Jesus did not have a place of His own on this earth. I write more about this topic in another paper titled, More Money Myths from the Bible.
One writer even said that poverty, scarcity, and neediness was part of the curse upon man because of sin.5 I would argue that the curse is actually the toil in work, not the outcome of work as this writer claims. (Genesis 3:17-19) God says in verse 17, “In toil you shall eat of it,” because the ground is cursed and will not willingly produce. Also in Romans 8:20-21, Paul says that the creation was subjected to futility and enslaved to corruption. So it is all of creation that is cursed, thus creating the toil for man. Charles Ryrie says about this, “Before this [the fall], Adam’s labor was enjoyable and satisfying; now it would be difficult and empty.”6
2. If you give, God gives more back
This is very close to a valid Biblical financial principle7, but is twisted. The principle of sowing is clearly explained in the Scriptures and is given in the example of sowing seed. You sow seed and the planting produces more than you sowed. However, the twist is that this is not a promise by God -‘You do this, I’ll do that.’ It is a principle. Since it is a principle instead of a promise, there are things that can interrupt the execution of the principle. Using the example of sowing seed, one must contend with such things as the weather, having viable seed, seasonal timing, pests, and disease.
3. Wealth is proof that you are right with God
God does give blessings, but He also sends rain for the unrighteous. (Mat 4:45)8 This shows God’s mercy toward His creation in that He even provides for those who are His enemies.9 In Psalm 49:6 a man trusts in his wealth instead of God and is described as having an abundance of riches. Other examples of those who are rich but not right with God:
- Psalm 37:7 talks about the man who is wicked yet prospers in his way.
- Proverbs 17:8 describes the evil man who bribes but “wherever he turns, he prospers.”
- Luke 12:16-21 Jesus tells the parable of the man wanting to build bigger barns, but not ready for his eternal future. He concludes the story with, “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
- Luke 18:18-23 Jesus confronts the very rich man who wants to inherit eternal life, but turns away from God.
There are many other examples, but I think you get the point. Prosperity does not necessarily demonstrate God’s favor on one’s life. On the other hand, being rich and having possessions are not condemned in the Scriptures. But they cannot be the gauge to determine our standing with God.
Parable of the Talents Misused
Jesus sometimes spoke in parables about money since it was of great interest to people and commonly understood. Parables were usually given to illustrate a particular point, but sometimes people use them to make another unintended point.
An example is the parable of the talents from Matthew 25 verses 14-30. The story concerns a rich man who entrusts sums of money to his slaves while he is away. Upon his return, the rich man settles accounts with his slaves -two do well by increasing the amount, but the third fails to increase the amount. Concerning this third slave, the parable concludes in verse 30 with, “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Does this sound like a reasonable response to the slave? Throw the slave into the outer darkness? He didn’t lose the money, he just didn’t increase it. Unless- the parable is not about money, but is about something greater. It is clearly about something much greater than money. The terms ‘outer darkness’ and ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’ refer to Hell, which is eternal separation from God.
Correct View
In his commentary on the parable of the talents, David Guzik summarizes the lesson. He says, “In the larger context of Matthew 25, the main point of this parable is clear: our readiness for Jesus’ return is determined by our stewardship of the resources that He has given us.”10 Similarly, John MacArthur concludes that it is about spiritual opportunities for the gospel. He says, “Whoever’s been given the gospel, to the one who has it and really receives it, more shall be given. He shall have an abundance.”11
Finally, Bible commentator Matthew Henry says the parable “implies that we are in a state of work and business, of diligence in our present work and service.” Of the third slave, Henry says “His doom is to be cast into outer darkness. It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned in hell.”12
Incorrect View
However, pastor Benny Hinn uses this passage to promote the prosperity gospel. In an e-newsletter on his site, Hinn says, “Our Lord is looking for faithful men and women that [sic] will receive supernatural abilities to receive wealth.” Hinn mentions that God uses the ‘laws of divine increase’ and ‘abundance and multiplication’13 to increase riches. Then, to illustrate his claim that God wants to give you wealth, he uses the parable of the talents. The parable becomes about the increase of the two slaves, not about the doom of the third slave.
About the parable, Hinn says, “Today, the principle remains the same. God is looking for people He can trust to receive. Once He finds you faithful, He will do His part by giving a supernatural increase of both riches and honor. God will trust you with more as you learn to trust Him with your talents, time, and treasure!”14
Get to Give
This worldly viewpoint says that it is important to give, and the wealthier you are, the better you can do it. According to author Robert Shemin, people who think correctly about being rich ‘believe it’s their duty to get more so they can give more.’15 You acquire the desire to get more, and then you learn how to give it away. Once you are giving, the law of giving will ‘bring you the abundance of the Universe’ as a reward.16 The ‘Universe’ rewards you, and you end up getting still more.
Laws of Wealth
Get to Give is a New Age spiritual thinking that encourages us to manipulate the universe by aligning our actions to the ‘spiritual laws of wealth.’ It puts you or I at the center of the universe instead of God at the center as revealed in the Scriptures. In New Age thinking, “whatever else exists besides the self, if in fact anything else does, exists for the self. The external universe exists not to be manipulated from the outside by a transcendent God but to be manipulated from the inside by the self.”17
Rewards from the Universe
Shemin also talks about the power of positive thinking and being thankful. He says that when he pays his phone bill, he includes a thank you note. The reason he does this is, “because every time I make even a small gesture like that the Universe rewards me for my thanks, sometimes in amounts that are extraordinary.”18
Wealth Wall
“It’s important,” says Shemin, “that you get comfortable with looking, feeling, and acting [rich]. One of the best ways to do that and to attract all the wonderful pleasures of wealth is to create a wealth wall.”19 A wealth wall, he goes on to explain, is like a bulletin board with pictures of expensive cars, houses, vacations, private jets, etc along with awards and symbols of recognition you want to receive, placed where you see it often. Notice that he says that by this process you can ‘attract’ these things to you. This idea is known as the ‘Law of Attraction’ and is espoused in books like The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, and touted by folks like Oprah Winfrey. The laws, they say, operate in the universe and we can tap into them to our benefit.
New Age Thinking
To see the connection of the ‘Law of Attraction’ to New Age thinking, I have included some some testimonials from folks that have read The Secret and recommend it:20
- “All my life I’ve felt there is more. Now I understand ‘I AM’ and ‘no idea is original.’”
- “Change your life by changing your thoughts. It is as simple and as complicated as that.”
- “I was changed to believing in myself and fulfilled. I feel ready to take the world on!”
The first writer connects themselves tp the clearly Biblical ‘I AM’, in which God identifies Himself to His people. Actor Shirley MacLaine, a New Age proponent, also uses the I AM to identify herself as god. Author James Sire (footnoted earlier), says in his comment on MacLaine, “The casual way MacLaine, and others use the I AM language of God’s self-revelation in Exodus 3:14 is deeply offensive to traditional Jews and Christian, for whom the term indicates a radical difference between the human and the divine, not the union of the human and the divine.”21
The second commentator is correct in saying that having the right thoughts is critical. But the Biblical injunction is to change to godly thoughts and correct thinking about God, ourselves, and the world. Biblical positive thinking doesn’t focus on ourselves, but on God and others. For example, we do not have to worry about money because God cares for us, not because of what we can do. So the positive Biblical thought is, ‘God loves me and will provide,” not, ‘I need to be rich to care for myself.’
The third comment must be understood in context of the book and viewpoint it is supporting. The idea is that the self will give fulfillment, rather than God. This again is the New Age thinking that the self is god and should be at the center of our lives instead of God. Believing in ourselves apart from God can lead us astray because our own hearts are deceitful. (Jeremiah 17:9)22 Trying to operate apart from God got us in the predicament we’re in to begin with.
Biblical Prosperity
The Bible speaks clearly and often about how we deal with money and our possessions. There is so much material, that this will be a very brief overview. Please see my related article on Six Biblical Principles for Handling Money and Possessions.
God desires to bless us, first spiritually. (Mark 10:29, 30) If we follow God and His financial wisdom contained in the Bible, we will also have the opportunity to prosper materially. (Proverbs 8:12-21)
Historically, God told Israel over and over that if they obeyed Him, He would bless them. (Genesis 22:1823; Numbers 6:22-27; Deuteronomy 29:9; Psalms 5:12)
The biggest difference in the Biblical view versus the other views we have talked about is desire, focus, pursuit, and whom we serve. Instead of money or riches, we are to put God at the center. There are many verses about each of these areas, here are just a few:
Desire
Long for the pure milk of the word. (1 Pet 2:2) Longing for and loving money spawns evil in our lives and can endanger a life of faith. (1 Tim 6:10) Those who desire to get rich encounter problems and fall into temptation. (1 Tim 6:9) Greed is idolatry. (Col 3:5)
Focus
Wealth can be precarious requiring constant care, and despite our attention to it, can ‘make itself wings.” (Proverbs 23:4,5) Rather, the godly do not fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches but on God. (1 Tim 6:17) The fool focuses on his money instead of God. (Luke 12:16-21)
Pursuit
Jesus instructs us to pursue God first and He will take care of the material. (Mat 6:33)
The man who ‘anxiously seeks for riches’24 will suffer for it. (Proverbs 28:20, 22)
Who We Serve
In Matthew 6:24, Jesus states, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” This is given in an either/or format, but the clear command from Scripture is to serve no one but God. In another passage, Jesus responds to the tempter in Luke 4:8, saying, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” The command then, is to not serve money, but God!
Conclusion
Prosperity is an idol in our lives when we pursue money rather than God. Neither Give to Get, or Get to Give are appropriate behavior for the Christian. Making sure that God is at the center of our lives is the way we were created -not ourselves at the center as New Age spirituality teaches.
Jesus warns us in Luke 12:15 to not be deceived about having an abundance. He says, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” Living in a materialistic culture pulls on us to focus on abundance. Rather, we should focus on God and follow Him.
1 See also Leviticus 26:11-12 & John 14:23
2 A good resource covering other important aspects of this so-called ‘gospel’ can be found at https://www.gotquestions.org/prosperity-gospel.html. 7/18/22
3 1 Timothy 6 9 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.”
4 1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.”
5 https://godwantsyouwealthy.com/god-wants-you-to-be-wealthy-2/ 7/11/22
6 Charles C Ryrie, Basic Theology, (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1999), 235
7 The meaning used in this article for principle is -a basic truth that explains or controls how something happens or works (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/principle) 7/19/22
8 Matthew 5:45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
9 Rom 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Unbelievers are God’s enemies because they reject Him.
10 https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-25/ 7/20/22
11 https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/42-106/be-careful-how-you-listen 7/20/22
12 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible -edited for brevity
13 Commonly used prosperity gospel terms.
14 https://www.bennyhinn.org/enewsletter/your-economic-destiny-part-2/ 7/20/22
15 Robert Shemin, How come THAT idiot’s rich and I’m Not, (New York: Random House, Inc., 2008), 53
16 Shemin, 58
17 James W Sire, The Universe Next Door, (Downers grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009),182, Emphasis added
18 Shemin, 57
19 Shemin, 89
20 https://www.thesecret.tv/products/the-secret-book/ 7/14/22
21 Sire, 183
22 Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?”
23 Genesis 22:18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
24 Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon -entry for ‘Hasten after wealth’